Australia, Dutch vow justice for MH17 victims

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (left) accompanied by Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte signs a condolence register during his visit to Mr Rutte's official residence Catshuis in The Hague, The Netherlands, on August 11, 2014. Mr Abbott is visiting the Netherlands to discuss the progress of the investigation of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17. The Netherlands lost 193 citizens, while Australia lost 38 citizens and residents, when the Malaysia Airlines plane from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 298 on board. -- PHOTO: AFP

THE HAGUE (AFP) - Australia and The Netherlands on Monday vowed to bring justice to the families of victims of downed flight MH17, despite the search for body parts being halted because of fighting in eastern Ukraine.

"We owe it to the dead, we owe it to the grieving families to bring them (the victims) home and to give them justice," Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said.

"We are not just partners in grief, but partners in demanding justice in the face of this terrible atrocity," Mr Abbott told Dutch Premier Mark Rutte at a press conference in The Hague.

The Australian leader is in The Netherlands for a one-day visit to thank the Dutch government for leading the investigation and to offer condolences to the victims' families.